Lafourche Bayou Country
Bayou Lafourche Area Convention & Visitors Bureau US 90 & LA * P O Box 340 Raceland, LA 70394 877-537-5800 www.visitlafourche.com info@visitlafourche.com
Bayou Lafourche is your link to all that is genuinely Cajun in South Louisiana. Within an hour of New Orleans or Baton Rouge, this 110-mile channel moves leisurely down Lafourche Parish to the Gulf of Mexico. Cajuns from Thibodaux to Port Fourchon call it their Main Street, “The Longest ‘Main Street’ in the world.” Up and down Bayou Lafourche celebrations fully reflect the Cajun Spirit. Festivals, fishing rodeos, the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet and Mardi Gras offer you a chance to participate in “the good life.” Enjoy Cajun delicacies…Music…Dancing…Swamp Tours…Victorian Homes…Historic Churches…Wetland Acadian Cultural Center…Scenic Bayou Drive…Public Beach…Fishing…Birding and more!
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Talkin’ It Up! February always gifts us with mid-winter celebrations such as Mardi Gras, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, and more. From beads and King cakes to tailgating fare and candy hearts, it’s a spirited month full of food, friends, and lots of fun. Maybe we should bring that merriment and joy well into the year by not just limiting our love and affection to Valentine’s Day. What could it possibly hurt to dole out hearts, flowers, and kisses (both smooches and the chocolate ones) to those we cherish? Especially if it includes a road trip! In the meantime, let’s rest up and enjoy this month’s celebrations as we prepare for the kick off of the Louisiana Festival Season. That’s one continuous event that’ll take us to the holidays. Be safe and let’s keep in touch.
Mona
Mona L. Hayden, Editor/Publisher monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221
ROAD TRIPS "Celebrating country living and city happenings!"
february
contents
BUSINESS REVIEW
INSPIRATIONAL
7 13
The Sugared Violet
10
Grooming Your Cat
MONTHLY TIDBITS
DELTA OUTDOORS 4 9 19
A Season to Remember By Johnny Wink In the Crosshairs by Sonny Harrington Back In the Day My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe Joslin 2012...I'm Feeling Hopeful!
FESTIVALS & ENTERTAINMENT 2
11 20
Talkin’ It Up! On the Scene – by Deborah Burst The Miracle Rescue Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When Louisiana Lagniappe Answers February Calendar Backtalk Keeping Bees! Going Native by Larry Brock Winter’s Ebb
RECIPES
Louisiana in the Civil War: February 1862: “A Terrible Accident” By Terry L. Jones Fire on the MOPac: The 1959 Ouachita Train Derailment Disaster By Lora Peppers Photographing Memories By Lee Estes
HUMOR 5
8 14 16 17 21 22
Lafourche Bayou Country
HISTORICAL 8
3 6
Dreams Do Come True By Robert Lemoine
A Life of Trial…and Error by Dennis Stewart Enjoying My Woodies
11
All Things Southern by Shellie Tomlinson "Chief Casanova and the CIA"
15
Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara Sharik The Saga of Dog
19
I Hate to Complain But… By Steve Cook
10
Recipes by Stacy Thornton
ROAD TRIPS 12 14
A Taste of Mobile By Mona L. Hayden
16
A Wondrous, Unconventional Road Trip by Sherry Perkin
17
Beds & Beignets by Mary White Strolling Magazine Street for Mardi Gras
18
Bodies Revealed at Sci-Port By Su Stella
Travel Adventure by Dianne Newcomer Italian Bliss!
Bayou Lafourche Celebrates Mardi Gras! Bayou Lafourche Area Mardi Gras has been the recipient of the Southeast tourism Societyʼs “TOP 20 EVENT” for the past three years. The Mardi Gras spirit along the bayou is filled with culture and tradition. The parade routes in the different communities are lined with spectators anxiously awaiting the cherished beads and throws. Among these spectators are multi-generational families who have come out to experience and share their culture and heritage with visitors. If youʼre lucky enough to be viewing the parade next to one of these families, you will have the experience of a lifetime. They will more than likely be cooking on a pit, Cajun delicacies like grillades and fresh sausage, or heating up some gumbo, or maybe frying fish. Sounds good, huh? Being a Cajun and never meeting a stranger, they will welcome you to join them and indulge in the gastronomical feast! So come on down the bayou and discover your inner Cajun. Who knows, you may even leave with the accent! Louisiana Road Trips
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A Season to Remember
PUBLISHER
By Johnny Wink
This has been a crazy season up here at Megabucks. First, you might remember the guy who farms behind my lodge set his corn field on fire to burn off the excess stubble and debris, but it back-burned and took my barn down––and almost everything else I owned. But thanks to the local volunteer firemen, just my barn was destroyed. I had to come up with a lot of money to get back going again. If you ever had any dealings with an insurance company you might understand. Every decoy burned as well as my lines and weights. I use tangle free line and crimp them on each end but the hard part is that I use sackrite for weights. I get 7 oz. paper cups then with number 10 solid wire, I cut the wire 18inches long and bend the ends out and stick the ends that are bent in the bottom of the cups. I then fill the cups with sackrite. Did I mention that I had to buy hundreds of new decoys this year? This is a lot of work but the worst was getting those 80 lb bags of sackrite home. At the home store, I picked up all these bag and put them on the cart but if you load too many, it won’t roll. And don’t think you’re gonna find anybody to help you. So after I fill several carts with 80lbs bags, I push them to the checkout one at a time while the woman there looks at me like I am crazy––and she has on a back brace, all while she is manicuring her sixinch nails. I bet she hasn’t picked up a bag of sackrite lately. I pay for them and push them to my truck––way out in this 20 acre parking lot––one at a time. It’s dark now and I have a one hour drive home. I am tired but there is a chance of rain so I’ll have to unload all the bags quick. But first I have to clear out a big part of my shed to make room for them. A few days later I had to pick up each bag again to mix with water so I can dip my paper cups and fill with concrete, several hundred times. I would like to thank those who helped me out with the weights and everything I had to do to get ready for business again after the fire. Ever since all
this lifting, when I try to get up my groin area hurts like heck. My doctor asked if I had anything poking out down there and I told him nothing pokes out there anymore. He asked if I felt like maybe a gut came through. Well, that night I checked with mirrors and lights and all kinds of things to help me see but I found nothing – thank the Lord! To guide and hunt, I have to go down into a pit blind in the ground. Then when we kill ducks, me and the dog retrieve them. Every time I come up out of the blind, my groin hurts, reminding me about my barn burning and I get mad all over again. The quicker I get up, the more it hurts. And I am still fighting with the insurance company. As I write this in mid-January, it’s 76 degrees. Something is not right with that. Well, we have about two weeks of duck season to go. They are starting to hit a friend’s timber so maybe we can get a hunt or two in the pin-oak timber. That would be nice but I bet my hunters won’t all have checked waders and we’ll have to go back to the pits. We have done real well in the afternoon with the deer. One hunter from Georgia, Mike Lee, killed a nice 8-point weighing 208 lbs. Also, Hannah Fife killed a nice doe. Needless to say, I didn’t have to drag any of those deer out of the woods. Hope y’all had a great year in a field and all was safe. I want to thank everyone that hunted with me and those that helped me get back on my feet before this season, because without good friends––male and female––I don’t think I could have done it. Thanks Ms. Barbara for helping me list of the things that I lost in the fire. Some were so personal, all my father’s and grandfather’s old tools and stuff. Thanks to Mona for coming deer hunting with me (she can’t be quiet) and Barbie for letting me teach you how to drive a 4-wheeler. Thanks to Hannah and Heath for all your help with everything, and Tyler Tippen, Mike Wyatt, Bradon Hudson, and my two guides, Mac McLung and Butch Canady (the two best duck guides on the planet, along with Mike Wyatt). And to the king, Glyn Kiper – thanks for everything! I don’t want to stand up right now because it’s going to hurt after sitting here typing but I gotta get to bed so I can roll out by 4am and get fired up on some duck killing. Come get you some!
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LRT Publications
______________________
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mona L. Hayden
monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221
OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL Debbie Hamilton Pope June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008
SALES Mona L. Hayden (318) 547-1221 Robert Lemoine (318) 381-9449 Sunny Meriwether (318) 547-8126
Website www.laroadtrips.com
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Louisiana Road Trips magazine is published monthly to promote, inform, and entertain the residents of Louisiana. It is distributed FREE; however, home delivery is available. This magazine will reach approximately 61,000 individuals. Submission of articles and photos are always welcome but may be limited to availability of space and edited for content. Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing within this publication is prohibited without written permission of the Publishers. The opinions expressed in Louisiana Road Trips magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. “Louisiana Road Trips” magazine retains the right to refuse any advertisement.
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P. O. Box 2452 West Monroe, LA 71294 (318) 547-1221
A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR
By Dennis Stewart
Enjoying My Woodies In February, I will be 59 years old, which means every woodie I am blessed with becomes even more appreciated. I know many sexagenarians who would love to get even one woodie a year. I don’t mean to boast but I am extremely fortunate in that I am able to get three woodies on a good day. This past December, I shot three wood ducks the first day I hunted them on my little 20 acre tract near Ravyille. I could have shot more, but three is the daily bag limit for wood ducks. One of them was even flying! The best time to hunt wood ducks is on cloudy, rainy days. This is due to the fact that legal shooting hours for shooting ducks end at sunset. You can legally shoot deer and squirrels until 30 minutes after sunset, but you must stop hunting ducks right at sunset. Many of the wood ducks on my 20 acres are keenly sensitive to this fact. Instead of bands, my wood ducks have wrist watches strapped to their legs. Thus, they know exactly when sunset is, and on sunny days they always wait until a few minutes past sunset before swooping into my little wood duck brake, which is bone dry most of the year. But the November rains begin to fill it up and by the middle of December it is usually a foot deep with thousands of acorns floating on the water surface, just right for the wood ducks. I wait patiently for a cloudy, rainy afternoon, when a few of the dumber ducks who are too poor to afford wrist watches are fooled into thinking that sunset arrived early. So they come in before actual sunset, and there I am waiting for them.
In case you have never had the opportunity, one of the greatest joys in a hunter’s life is to be present when a flock of wood ducks drops into a brake. Wood ducks do not light gently on the water’s surface. Instead, they rocket in like a kamikaze suicide plane, twisting and turning through the tree branches, and they hit the water like a big kid doing a cannonball in the neighborhood swimming pool. That first splash always startles me and makes me want to run home to mama. Thus, I normally never have a chance to aim at the first bunch to arrive, because they appear so suddenly and without warning. One of my favorite tricks is to move my leg rapidly in the water, creating little waves, which fool the first wood ducks to circle overhead into thinking that a flock is already there in the water swimming. It is not unusual to have wood ducks land less than 12 feet from me, or even closer. Many afternoons I have had to bob and weave in order to avoid collisions with incoming ducks. So far, none have speared me with their beaks. Wood ducks apparently mate for life and usually come into the brake in pairs. I have often shot a drake and had the hen remain nearby, scolding me with that eerie wood duck squeal. Wood ducks never arrive all in one bunch at the same time. Usually you will have one bunch with 5 or 6 in it, then 30 seconds later another bunch, and then maybe even another bunch with 20 or 30 ducks in it. The bunches keep coming for 10 or 15 minutes. It is not unusual in my little two acre brake to have 200 wood ducks there at the same time. This is true even where there are a couple hunters shooting at them. The ones who arrive 30 seconds later are completely unaware that the bunches ahead of them were shot at. Many times I have waded out
My wood ducks have wrist watches strapped to their legs.
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to pick up a dead duck only to have another bunch smack into the water only a few feet away. On a perfect afternoon, which is defined as overcast and rainy, you will probably enjoy about 12 minutes of great shooting before sunset. That is, if you don’t limit out during the first minute. I discovered my wood duck hole quite by accident three years ago when I was deer hunting. I had noticed ducks flying low over my 20 acres for several weeks. One evening I got down out of a tree stand at dusk and started walking toward my truck. All of a sudden, I heard a big splash directly in front of me, like a big buck had been spooked. Then I noticed big birds flying just a few feet over my head, and dropping down into the water. Ducks! And I was wearing hunter’s orange! The ducks didn’t care, or else they were flying so fast they couldn’t see me. I bought all the necessary licenses and stamps the next day, and the first morning I hunted them, I killed my limit of 3 in less than 10 minutes. Unfortunately, wood ducks are probably the most beautiful ducks there are, which means that I have spent a ton of money getting them mounted by taxidermists for my trophy room and my office. In any event, I know there will come a day when I can no longer get a woodie but at least I will always have something to gaze at and stroke and fondle as I remember the good ole days. Dennis Stewart grew up in northeast Louisiana, graduated from La Tech and LSU Law School. After having taught law at ULM and working as an Assistant District Attorney, Dennis is now a Hearing Officer in Rayville. He loves to hunt, fish, read, write, and shop on eBay.
On The Scene
The Miracle Rescue
A terrified canine finds his way home By Deborah Burst
I take a break on the front porch to get some fresh air. And I think about him, my darling Spikey. No matter the weather, we walked that gravel road every day for fourteen years. He loved the cold weather always begging for a walk. I can’t wear that tattered green coat anymore or the black wool cap, I can’t even walk the road. I lost my canine partner last March and I’m still grieving. As a tribute to my Spikey and therapy in mourning his loss, I turn to you my readers, and share his stories. His story, like his life, is a montage of mishaps and rescues, and I begin with one of my favorite, a story I wrote in August 2004. A wicked summer storm blew in--the kind that makes you flinch and jump with each lightning strike and booming clap of thunder. Even nature’s neighbors darted about looking for safe refuge including a terrified canine named Spikey. I raced home from work knowing my Spikey would be panting and shivering with fear, hovered under the house or perhaps visiting a neighbor. Unlike my normal homecoming, the barrage of barking and tail wagging, there was nothing but the eerie sound of pine branches snapping in the wind. Call me crazy but I’m his Mom, and I was worried sick. We adopted this hyper four month old retriever-chow puppy seven years ago. Spikes (his nickname) and I trail our gravel road and surrounding woods twice a day. He’s my bud and we enjoy that special parent/child bond that grows through the years. Some swear he greets you with a smile--a little pant showing that adorable purple dotted tongue--the mark of his chow heritage. Loving brown eyes beg for attention against a heavy coat of reddish blond hair. Incredibly social, he always stops by to visit and say hello to all his buddies as he dawdles along our trail. Everyone just calls me Spikey’s mom. He may be a social butterfly, but a wimp when it comes to bad weather. On this stormy Monday, Spikey searched high and low looking for a friendly face but the neighborhood was empty. He used the only tool he knew, his instinctive sense of smell. Scouring through several acres of piney woods, he fought the heavy rains and piercing roars of thunder to find a familiar scent. As the woods thinned out, another terrifying noise confronted Spikey on his mission to safety--the humming noise of cars racing down a nearby state highway. These cars were moving way too fast to say hello so
happened I Spikes sprinted across the road with his called the phone number, identified myself, and stubby little legs. It was either pure luck, they told me to hold on. blind fear, or the wings of his guardian “Hi Debbie, this is Vicki from next canine angel that took Spikey safely across door...Spikey just showed up at my door...I the highway. Now he discovered another don’t know how he got here...can you come get strange piece of land—St. Tammany Parish him?” and the State’s office building parking lot. I offered my apologies and thanks and Using the old faithful sniffer, just like Benji in the movies, he wondered through a maze sped my way over to their office to find my Spikes, wet, muddy, stinky but doing just fine. of cars until he found the doors of the state Vicki then told me how he snuck in the front building. Wet, muddy, a little stinky, and panting door, found her closed office door, and visited with the office workers. like there’s no tomorrow, Spikey waited Now some of you may wonder how a dog patiently as someone opened the door. He can possibly find his way through the woods to darted inside the building anxiously trying his next door neighbor’s office in the State to locate that familiar smell. The quick building on the second floor. And all I can tell clicking of his floppy paws raced up the you is we did assume a couple of things, he stairs as his head spun back and forth couldn’t have called a taxi (didn’t know the smelling every inch of this strange place. number), or hitched a ride in back of a truck Although the stairs continued another (can’t give directions) or use the elevator (too flight, he took a turn on the second floor. Following his instinct, he stopped in front of short to reach the buttons). But he was raised to be polite and offered his heartfelt thanks. a closed office door and sat down, waiting Spikey and I bought some cookies wrote a for a kind soul to let him in. nice thank you card and asked Ms. Vicki to An office worker nearby spotted this bring them to work the next day. A couple of unusual visitor and called the office. weeks later, we went back to visit and everyone “Vicki, you have a visitor waiting by got to see the real Spikes after a fresh bath-your door.” shiny clean and spelling a little fresher than his Vicki opened the door and shouted, last visit. “Spikey what are you doing here?” Spikey had found the scent, our next An award winning writer, photographer and social media door neighbor, Vicki Ainsworth, who works specialist, Deb owns a Media Arts degree from Tulane University with published work on a local, regional and at the State office. Maybe, a brief jaunt for mankind but it was a nightmare journey for national level. She specializes in travel, lifestyle, culinary culture and historical architecture along with social media a terrified canine. promotions for authors, publishers and small business She consoled him and he calmly owners. Deb enjoys a loyal following as a travel and food walked into her office laid down on her feet columnist with Louisiana Road Trips magazine and keeps busy with local publications. A frequent contributor to and took a much needed rest. But as I told nationally distributed magazines Fine Books & Collection, you our Spikey is quite the social butterfly. Old House Journal and Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine, Deb He excused himself and visited with the served as Louisiana bureau chief for the regional lovely ladies throughout the offices of the blockbuster, Southern Breeze magazine. A New Orleans state department of Human Services native now living in Mandeville, Louisiana, she is the cofounder of the Northshore Literary Society, member and Authority of Developmental Disabilities. former board member of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Ms. Stephanie offered him water which he Association. politely accepted as he waited for his mom to pick him up after a long day at the office. Spikes visit lasted less than SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE ANSWER an hour due to his trusty tags with personal info about him and his mom. There was a message on the Build Your Brand -- Grow Your Customer Base machine when I returned home Contact ads, newsletters and event invites •Constant service Facebook and Twitter business account facilitation from work. •Full Email contacts, Facebook friends, and Twitter followers •Expand “Ms. Burst, this is Lynette Detailed Monthly report on social media footprint • from the State offices and we have As you run your company, Deb Burst will market your product and service. Spikey here with us...I hope you Social media can reach millions. Start your year with a new direction. get this message soon...thanks.” Contact Deb Burst at debswriting@hotmail.com for more details. Still not knowing what had
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The Sugared Violet Epicurean Delights A Southerner by choice, Donna McManus previously owned a successful tea business in Bucks County, Pennsylvania before moving to northeast Louisiana, a place she now affectionately calls home. Donna has elevated her passion for baking to put together a most impressive menu of epicurean delights
suitable for the most discriminate tastes. Whether you need a platter of cookies and pastries for a small celebration or an elaborate catered dessert table, Donna can accommodate orders of any size. Selection include herb cookies, champagne biscuits, petite French cakes, mini pastries, and more. Each is hand-made and decorated with the utmost care. “Baking is patience,” says Donna. It is understanding the ebb and flow of ingredients and environmental factors. It is flirting with formulations to achieve the ultimate in taste combination, whether that result achieved is simplistic or quite complicated.” You can see more of Donna’s confections on Facebook at The Sugared Violet. For more information or to place an order, contact her at (318) 768-2216.
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Louisiana in the Civil War February 1862: “A Terrible Accident” By Terry L. Jones
away because he was a saboteur but because the train rumbled along through a dense fog, his train was "off the timetable.” He had unaware that another train hauling lumber recklessly entered the track without was bearing down on them. At about 7:00 authorization and fled because he feared the a.m., the two trains collided one mile south of Mississippians’ wrath. Foster was arrested Ponchatoula. about a week later and charged with The impact was catastrophic. Both of the locomotives’ boilers exploded in a cloud of manslaughter but, incredibly, was cleared of the charges. scalding steam, and the first two passenger To the men of the Seventh Mississippi it cars of the troop train were crushed together. mattered little whether the wreck was One newspaper reported that the dead and deliberate or an accident. Sergeant Bass dying soldiers in those cars were piled up “in wrote, “The collision was awful killing a great one horrible heap.” many and wounding many more which for a As soon as they had recovered from the time almost demoralized our entire regiment, shock of the accident, the dazed survivors 21 of our dead were brought up to the Depot began pulling the dead and injured from the twisted wreckage. Fortunately, there were two at Ponchatoula Station crushed and mangled some beyond recognition. The wounded were physicians onboard and they began treating carried back to New Orleans La of which the injured the best they could even though many died.” one doctor suffered a broken rib. The dead Sources conflict as were simply laid aside and to the exact number of covered with a blanket. the dead and mortally Upon learning of the injured, but it appears accident, the railroad the wreck claimed at company dispatched least 28 lives. Another 18 another train to the scene men were hurt, several so with additional medical badly that they were support and it later discharged from the returned to New Orleans army. The Seventh with the injured soldiers. Mississippi would go on A number of them died Civil War Train Wreck (Harperʼs Weekly) to fight in some of the soon afterwards while war’s bloodiest battles, but no single others had shattered arms and legs engagement resulted in as many dead as the amputated. Ponchatoula train wreck. William D. Foster, the lumber train’s Incredibly, the men of the Seventh engineer or conductor (sources disagree as Mississippi were involved in two more train to which) survived the crash but quickly wrecks over the next six months. On August ran away from the scene. A rumor spread 1, 1862, while traveling on the Mobile & Ohio among the soldiers that Foster was a 1. Before digging near a buried cable, railroad near Greenville, Alabama, their train Yankee who had deliberately rammed the you call “DOTTIE”. What does this crashed into some parked cars. Two men troop train to kill the Mississippians. stand for? were killed and several others were injured. Sergeant William Bass wrote in his diary that 2. What did “A & P” stand for? The other accident occurred in northwest the lumber train was driven by “an unknown 3. Which part of a firefly lights Georgia, but no particulars are known except party intending to knock us off into [Lake up? that several men were injured. Pontchartrain] and only missed their plan a 4. What Indians had several few moments. Some of the boys spent the villages around what is Dr. Terry L. Jones is a professor of history at the now Newellton? next day looking for the rascal that caused the University of Louisiana at Monroe and has published six 5. What is Poverty Point's collision, but to no effect.” books on the American Civil War. dominant feature? As it turned out, 6. What was the first seat Foster did of government in Lincoln Parish? not run 7. Where was the first coffee packing company in north Louisiana? 8. Who was Jimmie Davis referring to in "You Are My Sunshine"? 9. North Louisiana has produced three consecutive governors – who were they? 10. How tall is the LA State Capitol building, the tallest in the nation?
Soldiering in the Civil War was dangerous business. If a man was lucky enough to survive the myriad diseases that infected campsites and dodge the enemy’s bullets on the battlefield, he might well fall victim to a simple accident. Railroads, in particular, were notoriously unsafe. Transporting thousands of soldiers over hundreds of miles of rickety track was a recipe for disaster. What may have been the deadliest railroad accident in American History at the time occurred on February 27, 1862, near Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Early that morning, two trains collided head-on, killing and maiming dozens of soldiers in the Seventh Mississippi regiment. Several newspapers covered in detail what was described as “a terrible accident.” The Seventh Mississippi was raised in southern Mississippi and was stationed on the Gulf Coast in February 1862 when it received orders to proceed by train to Tennessee to reinforce the Confederate army there. After making its way to New Orleans by steamboats, the regiment boarded a twelve-car train of the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad and departed at 4:00 a.m., February 27, for Columbus, Mississippi. Most of the soldiers drifted off to sleep as
ouisiana Remember When . . .
Answers on next page 14
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IN THE CR SSHAIRS
By Sonny Harrington
Back In the Day As I get older, I reflect back on fond memories of my early hunting trips. My first dove, first squirrel, first deer, my first piece… Well, about 40 years ago I-20 ended in Waverly, La. That’s where I killed my first dove. There were no Eurasian or Ringnecks and I unethically shot him off a wire at age 5 with a model 42 Winchester. My Dad didn’t say, “Chootem, chootem” cause we were from north Louisiana and we only had two channels on the black and white TV. My first squirrel succumbed to my .22 on our farm property in Morehouse Parish. Back then when you saw deer tracks, you called the neighbors on the party line to come see. There were no turkeys but we did have quail. You know, Bobwhite? I think they went the way of the DoDo bird and the Passenger Pigeon. Personally, I’d say fire ants wiped them out. I also remember my father speaking of the first armadillo he saw in the early 50’s. I recall him saying it was pronounced dead at the scene on Hwy 139 and how people came from all around to marvel at the unusual critter. At this point I’d like to add, we have the 9-banded species and when they have offspring its always four due to Mitotic (egg splitting) reproduction. (Wouldn’t my biology teacher be proud of me now?) My first deer was taken in what is now Tensas National Wildlife Refuge, a place hunted by President Teddy Roosevelt and guided by Ben Lilly from Mer Rouge, LA. Story goes that they had bad luck and bad weather and the only bear they tree’d was so small the president wouldn’t shoot it. Thus the Teddy Bear made his début. Back to my first deer… It was mid 1960’s and we had a 1959 Ford F100 pickup, 4 wheel- drive, which I still have it and NO, it’s not for sale. I’d always beg and plead to go hunting with my father. I look back now and know I must have cramped his style of hunting. He was a Marine and moved through the woods like it was some kind of military maneuver. He would tell me how cold it was going to be and that I’d have to sit still for hours. For some stupid reason I’d beg to go anyway. HE WAS NOT LYING! My teeth chattered uncontrollably and my legs
shook as he scratched out a spot under a big oak tree miles from Nowhereville and tell me he’d be back in a few hours, all before daylight which meant he’d be back around noon. We didn’t have Child Protective Services back then. The first deer I ever saw I couldn’t shoot because I was so cold that I couldn’t feel the safety on my rifle. I was a popsicle basket case and to this day have no earthly idea why I like to deer hunt. I didn’t even see a deer the first few years I hunted with him. Finally, when I was 8 years old I scored a 6-pt. We had gotten some apples and made a mock apple tree next to my stand the day before. I’d moved up in the world and my Dad constructed this “homemade” stand about 400 feet up in some trees. I remember wearing two pairs of jeans that day to stay warm. My rifle was an M1 carbine, made by Inland Division of General Motors. Dad made a special stock with a pistol grip just like the ones on AR-15s today. It was short and light, just like me. There were no “youth model” rifles. Winchester made the only hollow-point bullet that was suitable for deer hunting. Four years later I progressed to a Ruger M77 6mm and used it for years. I remember I got a RedfieldWidefield scope for Christmas and we carefully mounted it on the receiver. BUT guess what? The bolt wouldn’t clear the widefield bell on the scope. One of life’s disappointing moments solved by a standard issue 4 power scope. We reloaded our ammo for everything. I didn’t know you could buy ammo already assembled til I was in college. I remember wearing those black rubber boots and two pairs of socks. We couldn’t even spell the word i-n-s-u-l-la-t-e-d. I also remember the first battery powered socks, a true modern marvel. I did learn that if I could keep my head and feet warm the rest of me would stay warm. We didn’t have to wear hunter’s orange and didn’t know deer were color blind. Now we know
The only bear they tree’d was so small the President wouldn’t shoot it.
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that some of our fellow hunters are color blind, too. Back in the day, “legal” was 3 inches of hard horn and it was a felony with 90 days hard labor to shoot a doe. I think we had 5 tags. There were no ATV’s, just jeeps and trucks with big co-op tires and every road in the woods had ruts you could stock with bass. We winched more than we drove. Years later we got into six wheelers, Hustlers, Coots and then the 3-wheeler. The 4-wheelers today allow us to get in places and get deer out that was unimaginable 40 years ago. Our deer stands are constructed of the finest lightweight tubing with fiberglass, safety restrictions, and harnesses available. Clothes in your choice of camo patterns. Realtree, up a tree, Mossy oak, what tha? Ghillie suit? AND my favorite invention…the Thermo cell. Louisiana has 18 different varieties of mosquitoes but only the female will bites. We know what the female Black Widow does to her husband. What’s the deal with the females? Anyway, our guns have changed, synthetic stocks, more choices on calibers, bullet types, scopes have more power and clarity. And if you get lost, can you spell G-P-S? Don’t bother, just use your cell phone and call. I walked a lot more 40 years ago, too. A juvenile officer once told me that he never arrested a kid with a hunting or fishing license in his pocket. Must be something to that. I hope you enjoyed looking back on my first dove, squirrel, and deer. Oh, about that first piece – it was PIE. It was chocolate at my grandmothers. Sonny Harrington is a Hunter Safety Instructor. He is also an NRA (National Rifle Association) Rifle & Pistol Instructor and has hunted from Alaska to Mexico.
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RECIPES
by Stacy Thornton February is loaded with noteworthy dates – black history month, ground hog day, Super Bowl Sunday (5th), Valentine Day, Mardi Gras, Presidents Day, and Go Red Day for the American Heart Association. With so much going on in February, there is no reason not to celebrate with family and friends. Host a leap year party and celebrate that extra day that happens every 4 years. I hope you enjoy these recipes and share them with family and friends!
Red Velvet Cake Balls 1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake) 1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.) 1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate) wax paper
8 oz cheddar cheese shredded 1/4 tsp pepper 2 green onions, chopped 2 tbsp pimento strips
Beat cream cheese and add cheddar cheese, parmesan, and Miracle Whip. Beat until blended. Add onions and pepper. Refrigerate a couple of hours to set. Form cheese mixture into football shape. Coat with chopped pecans. Place pimento strips on top to make the football lacing. Serve with crackers. Good cheese ball and really cute for a game.
Party Bread
Prepare cake according to package directions. Cool completely. Crumble in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly with cream cheese frosting. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and place on cookie sheet. Chill for several hours in fridge or freezer. Melt chocolate in microwave and roll balls in chocolate and place on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon or toothpick to dip in chocolate.)
1 lb loaf round sourdough 1 lb Monterey jack cheese, sliced 1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup butter, melted 2 tsp poppy seeds
Cut bread lengthwise and crosswise without cutting through the bottom. Insert cheese slices between cuts. Cover baking pan with foil. Combine butter, onions and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
Jazzy Red Beans and Rice
Stadium Muffuletta Sandwiches 3/4 cup chopped pimento stuffed olives 2 tbsp olive oil 3/4 tsp dried oregano 4 sandwich rolls 6 oz provolone cheese sliced thinly
Cheesy Football 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/2 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing 1 cup chopped pecans Ritz crackers
1/3 cup chopped onion 1 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 1/2 tbsp chopped parsley 6 oz smoked ham 4 oz sliced salami
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine first six ingredients in food processor until coarsely chopped. Spread olive mix on the bottom of each roll and top with ham, salami, and cheese slices. Place tops on each sandwich and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until cheese melts and bread is lightly toasted. Serve warm and watch these babies disappear on game day or anytime.
2 cans light kidney beans, do not drain 2 cans dark kidney beans, do not drain 2 lbs smoked sausage, sliced 16 oz bag frozen onions, peppers, celery 1 tbsp Italian seasoning blend 2 bay leaves hot sauce to taste
1 tbsp butter 1 cup chopped ham 1 cup chopped celery 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tsp seasoning salt 2 cans chicken broth 2 to 4 cups cooked rice
Prepare rice according to package directions. Melt butter in large pot and saute seasoning blend, celery, and garlic. Add sausage and cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in ham, seasonings, beans, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes. The longer this simmers the better it is. Garnish with parsley. Serve with French bread and salad.
Dreams Do Come True By Robert Lemoine There was an awesome message in front of one of the Churches I drive pass on a regular basis. It said, “Don’t mistake God’s patience for His final answer.” So many of us keep telling ourselves that it’s all on God’s time, that He’ll answer
in my favor when He thinks I’m ready. He knows I know what’s best for me in my life. Well, what if He already said, “NO”? We don’t want to hear that so we just keep waiting. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own wants that we forget about what He’s already given us. Look at what you already have and don’t compare yourself to the Donald Trump’s of the world. Chances are if you think about it, you’ll realize that you’re doing well enough. Jesus told us long ago that to truly follow Him we should rid ourselves of things and follow Him. Yet, we sit and pray for a bigger house and more stuff. He’s already told us that the birds and beasts don’t plant fields and put food away but instead just rely on God to provide for them. We need to quit letting Satan tell us what we need and listen to the Truth. If you’ve given your life to Jesus, then all of your dreams have already come true. Because when you give your life to Him, you realize that having lots of money and possessions is not really living for Him. That is not what your heart is after. Those are just desires of the flesh. When you give your life to Him, He
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takes those desires away and gives you everything you need…His love. So it looks like dreams do come true. You just have to get the right dream. Hopefully, this is a wake-up call to some and a reminder to others. May God bless you and keep you safe in all that you do. Remember, the fastest way up is to kneel down. A lifelong resident of Union Parish, Robert Lemoine is a Christian small business owner. He and his wife, Summer, oversee www.foreverandalwaysonline.com and also sell Christian merchandise at flea markets and fesitvals in north Louisiana and surrounding states. Robert's writings are most inspirational, Christian, and patriotic with occasional reflections on lessons learned. He can be reached at writing@foreverandalwaysonline.com.
ALL THINGS SOUTHERN
By Shellie Tomlinson
"Chief Casanova and the CIA" Hello folks, I'm Shellie, they call me the Belle of All Things Southern. Have a seat, and let's chat… ~smile~ It's February, that special time of the year when love is in the air. Peace and love--that's a good thing. How we get there, well, that can be open to debate. Love being in the air can be a problem in certain situations. I offer you one such instance for illustration. We’ve all heard stories of the government spending ludicrous amounts of money on hammers and toilet seats and we know how we feel about that sort of tasteful spending. But, here’s an expenditure with a romance angle that gets a good bit murkier.
All Things Southern “Bringing you the charm and heritage of the South…” ph 318-559-0319 • cell 319-282-2508 tomtom@allthingssouthern.com
The CIA has a history of bribing informants with things like cash, tools, and medicine. They consider it a necessary evil. I can buy that. But, did you know that as the Taliban resurged in Afghanistan and the need for information in the war on terror has grown, the CIA boys have gotten a whole lot trickier. Yep. In recent years it was reported that they began giving aging tribal chiefs those famous little blue pills. That’s right, as in, “I’ll trade you ten Viagra for two terrorists.” Have mercy! Reports are that one such chieftain returned the next day, gave up the goods on his evil buddies, and put in a request for more blue pills. At first blush, this appears to be a win/win for everyone but the bad guys— and they aren’t on our side anyway. But, has anyone thought about the harem? Please. Just when the girls were getting accustomed to Chief Casanova falling asleep counting camels, he’s there waving his tunic around his head and singing off key to Elvis Mahmoud’s famous remix, “Are You Lonesome Tonight”.
And where are the anti-torture folks on this one? Chuckling on their blogs, that's where! I had a tougher time signing off it. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the whole harem was hoping Chief Casanova would get his groove back, but like my friend Paulette said, “I know it ain’t waterboarding, Shellie, but still.” I have a better idea. Memo to the CIA: If y’all could somehow get these same pills into the hands of the terrorists, y’all might be able to keep ‘em… well, busy long enough to sneak up on ‘em. I even came up with a cool code name for the operation: “Party Crashers.” You’re welcome. Oh, and one more thing. I promised Bubba I’d tell y’all that he has some real good inside information on a couple terrorists, if you’re interested. But, I don’t know, I don’t trust his motives. Y'all have a big day on the porch and drop me a note if you want to shoot the breeze. I'll be around. ~Hugs, Shellie
Fire on the MOPac:
The 1959 Ouachita Train Derailment Disaster By Lora Peppers
The night of January 22, 1959 was cold with fair skies. Temperatures were in the 20’s. Engineer C.L. Thomas was taking a one hundred thirty-nine car Missouri Pacific train from Alexandria to St. Louis. On board was cotton, pulpwood and several tanks of chemicals such as butadiene and propylene. By 11 pm. that night the train had made it to southern Ouachita Parish. Two deputies were on patrol on Hwy. 165 South that night: W.E. Bowman and Amos Standfield. Glancing over at the train, one of the deputies noticed that a firebox on one wheel was red hot and throwing sparks. The Deputies raced to the front engine with lights flashing to try to get Engineer Thomas’ attention. Thomas returned the signal, sounded the whistle several times and began to slow down. The Deputies then slowed down to fall back and check the box again. Then disaster struck. As the train reached north of the Prairie Rd. intersection, the car with the overheated hotbox jumped the tracks taking thirty-two cars and a section of the track with it in a sheet of fire. The deputies claimed the cars came off like folding matchsticks. Four fire trucks from Monroe were called to put out the blaze. Law enforcement shut
down that section of Hwy. 165. All night the fires blazed and minor explosions were heard from the exploding propane tanks. By daybreak only one car remained burning. Many people came from miles around to see the destruction. Law enforcement had a tough time keeping the crowds back while crews battled the blaze. When night came, the fire seemed to be well under control. This wouldn’t last very long. At approximately 7:30 that night a plane flying above Marshall, TX one hundred fifty miles away saw an explosion in the direction of Monroe. Rayville residents saw the flash in the sky and Monroe heard a distant roar. Sparks had ignited a leaking tank. Three people: O.C. Mitchell of Lake Village, AR, Paul Tyson of Monroe and Tom Hill of Montrose, AR were instantly killed. Fifty-five people were wounded, thirty of them were spectators. Witnesses to the explosion described a wall of fire passing over their heads, a blinding flash and a deafening roar. The exploding tank car spewing fire landed 200 feet away over the highway and into the nearby cotton field. Men who were caught in the fire ran desperately through the cotton fields or for ditches to put out the flames on their clothes. The ditches were not full of water. Acid had flowed from the damaged tank cars, mixed with water used to put out the fires and then collected in the ditches. Ambulance attendants described the acid dripping off the
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agonized wounded eating holes in their vehicles. All of the survivors were carried to St. Francis or Conway Hospital. Hundreds lined up to donate blood for the wounded. On January 24th, demolition experts were called in from Barksdale Air Force Base to safely explode the remaining tanks. Forty pounds of explosives were placed under two cars. At 5:06 pm they were safely exploded and the cleanup began. Five more men over the coming days would die from their injuries: Cosby O. Prestage of Monroe, Charles Roy Barnes of McGehee, AR, Woodrow Mooney of Little Rock, AR, Bobby Smith of Bonita, LA and Willie Frye of Gould, AR. Missouri Pacific Railroad officials called it “The worst disaster of its type in the company’s history.” It would take months to finish the cleanup. You will find no signs of the explosion in that area today. Green grass and crops now grow where men lost their lives. They say, “Time heals all wounds.” I would add “but some scars remain.” Lora Peppers, a Monroe native, grew up in Bastrop and graduated from ULM. Her love of history dates back to childhood when one of her favorite activities was visiting local cemeteries to examine headstones. She also loves to travel, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park being her favorite place on Earth. Her job as a genealogist and historian has given her the opportunity to lead many lectures and author several books. She can be reached by email at loradpeppers@hotmail.com.
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A Taste of Mobile
One delightful bite at a time! By Mona L. Hayden
Like most Louisianans, you’ve probably traveled through Mobile many times on the way to the beaches of Florida and back home again. However, this city definitely merits itself as a prime destination for any traveler. From Mardi Gras and moon pies to architecture and monarchs, Mobile delivers big on entertainment, culture, and cuisine. Recognized for the original Mardi Gras celebration in 1703, Mobile continues to revel in the spirit of the season several weeks each year with crowd pleasing parades and floats, marching bands, and lots of throws, including moon pies, the city’s adopted informal emblem. If you miss the actual celebration, you can always visit the Mobile Carnival Museum (www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com) any time and climb aboard a rocking float to get a firsthand view as a masked rider. Mobile serves up an architectural feast as well, as it was once a colony for France, Britain, and Spain during its first 100 years. The historical influence of each era continues to be prevalent throughout the city. Home to various art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional opera, and a professional ballet company, Mobile is a designated cultural seat along the Gulf Coast. For nature enthusiasts, the 65-acre Bellingrath Gardens (www.bellingrath.org) are beautiful any time of year. They were declared the Top Public Rose Garden in the U.S. in 2004 and are still captivating visitors. Take the selfguided walking tour to explore the extensive gardens and the Bellingrath’s original 10,500 square foot home before taking the 45-minute cruise to bird watch and recapture history of the Civil War. You may want to plan another visit to Mobile to witness the migration of the monarchs as they pass right through on their journey to Mexico. DINING – Don’t even consider visiting the Mobile area without enjoying a meal at the Bob Baumhower’s Compleat Angler Seafood Grille & Bar (www.CompleatAnglerGrille.com) where fresh, local and homemade fare comes straight from the Gulf. Dine on the deck to be dazzled by the beautiful bay and glorious sunsets with a plate of seafood, farm fresh vegetables and fruit, and possibly the best pina coladas on earth! Menu selections include temptations such as shrimp and grits, coconut cay fish, gator tail platter, conch fritters, grilled or fried pig, and the Hemingway filet. Top off your meal with fresh key lime pie or Bimini bread pudding. (FYI…From 1935-37, Ernest Hemingway was lured to Bimini and The Compleat Angler Hotel where he immortalized the island’s incredible fishing in his book Islands in the Stream.) If you time it just right, a delightful recurring Gulf Coast phenomenon not to miss is the ‘Jubilee’, where Mobile Bay residents
and visitors anticipate the prospect of gigging hundreds of flounder or catching tubs of crabs and shrimp within just a few hours. This can encompass a 15-mile stretch or just a few hundred feet of beach and tends to occur on a summer morning, typically before sunrise with a gentle wind from the east, a calm and slick bat surface, and an overcast or cloudy day the previous day. Jubilee’s seem to occur only in Tokyo Bay in Japan and Mobile Bay in Alabama. In celebration of the Jubilee, the Compleat Angler Seafood Grill & Bar serves up the most incredible seafood platter. Now you understand why dining at The Compleat Angler should be on every foodie’s bucket list. Another dining experience takes place at Spot of Tea (www.spotoftea.com) on Dauphine Street. With a distinct flair reminiscent of New Orleans, this local restaurant has been serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner since 1994. A house favorite is their seafood bisque made with fresh blackened Mexican grouper in a light parmesan cream base. Special event parties and tour groups are always welcome and breakfast and lunch is served anytime. BONUS: With a full tummy, enjoy a leisurely stroll a couple blocks away and tour the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Construction of the cathedral began in 1835 and was completed in 1850. Notice the remarkable stained glass windows that were created in Munich, Germany and the crypt chapel for deceased bishops that was added in 1964. If visions of barbeque have been occupying your thoughts, head over to The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint (www.theshedbbq.com) where you’ll find some of the best smoked barbeque in the South! Unpretentious and entertaining, this place personifies the best of all the barbeque joints imaginable with makeshift décor, live music, and a lip-smacking menu that will have you coming back for more. BBQSuperStars.com recently ranked the Top 100 BBQ Sauces in the world and The Shed’s Sweet Baby Rays took 1st, the “shed spred” ranked 4th, their world famous Cattleman’s captured 7th, and the rubs placed 12th. Pretty convincing, I’d say, as the numbers don’t lie. For a dining experience like no other, drop by the original Wintzell’s Oyster House (www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com) on Dauphine, a Mobile landmark
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since 1938. With 12 locations, 11 in Alabama and one in Pensacola, and an enthusiastic staff that makes you feel like family, Wintzell’s serves up oysters any way you like them. Or as they like to say, “Fried, stewed, or nude – and now charbroiled”. Be sure to taste the West Indies Salad, made with lump crabmeat marinated in oil and vinegar for 24 hours, then blended with chopped onion and spices. Follow it with some seafood gumbo, buckehead beef steaks, chicken or fish. Of course, this is after you’d devoured oysters prepared every possible way! ACCOMMODATIONS – Mobile boasts several world-class hotels owned by PCH Hotels & Resorts (www.pchresorts.com) associated with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. These include the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Pt. Clear, the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa, and the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, both in Mobile. All have meeting facilities with advanced technology and of course, the gold standard of comfort and excellence symbolic with Marriott. The exquisite European spas, first-rate dining, and exceptional attention to every detail will make your stay unforgettable. The historical aspects of these properties are also noteworthy. For instance, the original Battle House dates back to 1852 and was built on the site of a military headquarters set up by Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812 and also served as a hospital during the Civil War. If time permits, request a guided tour to experience the whispering arch and more. The award-winning Grand Hotel, the undisputed Queen of Southern Resorts situated on 550 acres, dates back to 1847. Gentile and patriotic, the Grand offers a military canon salute each day at 4pm, followed by afternoon tea. Mobile was founded by the colonial French in 1702 to serve as the capital of Louisiana and was named for the Native American Mobilian tribe in that area. As the only seaport in Alabama, it was initially a key trading center between the French and Native Americans and is now the 9th largest port in the country. Located just 23 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico at the fork of the Mobile Bay and the Mobile River, this Southern charmer is sure to delight any guest. Pack your bags and plan to stay a while because the lure of Mobile is sure to satisfy any appetite!
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Grooming Your Cat Cats are known for grooming themselves but you can help with regular brushings to remove dirt and loose hair to keep their coat clean and tangle-free and reduce hairballs. There are several types of brushes and combs so find one right for your cat. Special combs are even available to help split and remove mats, although some must be professionally shaved. If you and your cat are new to grooming, start slow. Choose a time when they are relaxed and keep sessions short. As you pet your cat, try to handle all parts of his or her body, including the feet, so that your cat becomes used to being touched. If your cat seems uncomfortable being handled or groomed, stop. Most cats do not need to be bathed regularly but when they do, use warm water, a mild shampoo made for cats, and treats, petting, and praise as rewards for good behavior. Do not pour or spray water directly on your cat’s head. Trimming your cat’s nails before bathing is recommended. Consult your veterinarian for tips and assistance if necessary.
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TRAVEL ADVENTURE
By Dianne Newcomer
Italian Bliss! I love lakes-especially ones where the mountains meet them. It has been well over 25 years but I can still “see” Lake Lucerne on that hot sunny day in July. Rob and I sat on a grassy puttinggreen-perfect beach and like a beautiful lady, she seemed to enjoy our attention; her waters glistened while the magnificently high and snowcapped Alps stood in awe around her. With the medieval town in the background and all that beauty laid out before us, we just lingered, soaking it in. Right then and there, Rob proclaimed we had found the most perfect place in the world but then we traveled to France and discovered Lake Annecy, surrounded by mountains, complete with a medieval city and a chateau. In Annecy, he proclaimed we were “living the dream.” The more journeys we took, the more fickle we became. It wasn’t long before we felt the “perfect place” was Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, the lakes of Killarney in Ireland, the Lake District of England, Lake Bled in Slovenia, and Lake Geneva, which should have been one of Monet’s Impressionist paintings. All these wonderful lakes left us breathless! After deciding there was no perfect spot on earth, last fall we discovered Italy’s Lake Como! We planned this to be our final stop on a whirlwind tour of Italy that included Tuscany and Cinque Terre. The region was so incredible that we doubted this little gem an hour and a half from Milan could top it. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. To cut our visit short in Cinque Terre was a difficult decision but we did it for you. As travel agents, 1. Dial One Time To Inform our job is to Everyone travel and see 2. Atlantic and Pacific as much as 3. Their tummy 4. Tensas Indians we can in 5. A giant effigy order to make mound depicting a bird in flight 6. Vienna 7. E. Morgan Coffee Company, Ruston 8. His horse 9. Huey Long, O.K. Allen, James A. Noe 10. 450 feet with 34 floors
ouisiana Answers …
your trip to Lake Como the best ever! Getting to this area, Bellagio, had its challenges. The Italian roads were great--in most cases, much better than ours--but a GPS would have been invaluable. Navigating through the bustling port town of Como was pretty awful. By the time we found the route to Bellagio, it was getting late. Many clients enjoy a day trip from Como to the three most famous lakes--Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore-but we chose to stay in Bellagio, a village in the heart of the Lake Como that Steve Wyn used as inspiration for his spectacular Las Vegas hotel. As we drove the winding narrow road hugging the immense lake’s coastline in total darkness with impatient Italians on our bumper, we prayed Steve Wyn was right. The moment the village came into view, we fell in love! Like most areas in Tuscany and Cinque Terre, cars are a nuisance. You park and walk everywhere so even in late evening, Bellagio’s wharf area was bustling. People strolling; boats coming and going; musicians playing; candles flickering; cafes busy under the starlit skies, all with the lake glistening in the background. We checked into our lakeside hotel, unloaded bags, parked a mile away, and joined the fun. With its narrow cobble stone streets, breathtaking views, impeccably stunning homes, charming walkways, and lovely gardens, Bellagio was charming. For centuries, this spot has been the playground for the world’s rich and famous, obviously. Sightseeing tours including glimpses of celebrity villas of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Richard Branson but, in my opinion, none of that hype is necessary. Bellagio was rich enough, old world authentic, complete with extremes and extravagances, surrounded by alpine forests and towering mountains. When you add how easy
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it was to catch a ferry and visit the tiny fishing villages of Bellano and Varenna, to go to the charming port of Tremezzo where the Grand Hotel has a floating swimming pool on top of the lake, to enjoy a shopping excursion in Stresa, or to walk the medieval palazzis of the charming little towns of Laglio and Managgio, the whole experience just gets richer. Within a few days, we explored a Moorish castle, hiked mountain trails, visited an elaborate Renaissance garden, and introduced our appetites to the most amazing Italian cooking! One day, while enjoying a decadent delight in an outdoor café in Tremezzo, we counted 78 Rolls Royces, dozens of Bentleys, and a fair mix of Alfa Romeos rolling through town, thinking it was a car show but later told flowers on the hood indicated they were wedding guests. This whole area is a glamorous little corner of the world, but at the same time, we saw people--from chic to simple--sit on a pillow on cobblestone steps in an alley way and wait their turn for a table at a local restaurant. No one seemed too sophisticated and that made us love Bellagio, a ridiculous place where anything can happen! This fall, MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE has a group trip to see the TREASURES OF ITALY, a great opportunity to enjoy this area, plus see Tuscany. Call Rob or me at 318.323.3465 for details. It’s time to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy the richness of the moment. Let's go to Italy!
RUNNIN’ THE ROADS
By Barbara Sharik
The Saga of Dog A tall, longlegged fawn colored dog with a Great Dane face is living across the field from me. That isn’t his original home. The Saga of Dog begins when Liz started feeding kitty kibble (she has a passel of cats) to a dumped or lost dog at her workplace. After about a week, her boss grumbled about this stray dog hanging around so she asked if I’d adopt him. Of course, I’ve been feeding strays for years. Note: Spay and neuter, folks. Bony, rib cage showing, he gobbled dog food, wagged his tail and bounced around with sheer bliss. The next morning, the newest yard dog saw Liz’s vehicle drive by, took off, ending in her yard. Joy of joys, he was home. He was with the person who fed him and bestowed warm, loving human touches. She brought him back. I talked, walked and petted him. Then I went inside. He headed out the gate, his pace becoming a trot and he was homeward bound. Down the road and to the house across the field. My dogs are used to strays showing up in their yard. A few weeks earlier, their barking alerted me to a hungry coyote eating dog food on the carport. Nonaggressive, it allowed me a photo op before slipping silently into the night. Once I came outside, my dogs stopped barking, probably thinking, “Mom’s adopted another stray dog.” When Marmaduke, as I called him, returned to Liz’s house, her cats freaked out, hiding under the house until she brought him back to me. As long as I stayed outside petting and talking, he was content. When I went inside, he all but flew back across the field to Liz’s. For days Liz would call, “I’m bringing him back. Hang onto him long enough for me to feed my cats.” Thus it went. Duke loved and bonded with Liz and would not let go. We tried this several times and eventually concurred that he’s not going to give up living with Liz. He likes me a lot, but he loves her
completely. Each time the big bumbling rascal went back across the field, my dogs didn’t complain. They’d bunch up and walk him to the gate to be sure he was really leaving... and then they’d come back into the yard. I placed an ad in the newspaper: FOUND – Large yellow male dog on Old Bonita Road. In danger of being shot if not removed from premises where found. Used to being in a house and riding in vehicle. Very loving and super friendly. Extremely beautiful. Please call… After we ran the ad, we learned someone else originally found Marmaduke on Hwy 165 north of Bonita and took him home. From there he wound up on Old Bonita Road where Liz made his acquaintance. As Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story. However, you really don’t. The rest of the story is still playing out. The first woman responding to the ad said her boyfriend picked the dog up in Bonita and brought him home where she and her two boys fell in love with him, only to wake one morning and find him gone. However, the original person bringing him home to the lady and her sons said he didn’t want him anymore, assuming he’d run off again. Perhaps. The ad continued to run. A second woman answering, wanting so much for this to be her lost dog, Happy. She said Happy is brown. I said this dog is yellow. She said, “Sometimes dog’s coats darken as they age.” I said it’s a big dog in reply to her description of a puppy. She said, “Yes, but Happy’s growing fast.” She begged me to please see if he’d answer to “Happy.” She missed her dog so much and she wanted this dog to be her Happy. The next caller was so sure this was her dog that she drove to Jones to see for herself. She hoped beyond hope that this was Lucky. It wasn’t.
“Mom’s adopted another stray dog.”
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Another person called, saying the dog fit the description of her friend’s dog, also named Lucky; but her friend never called. Thus, Liz bought a collar and leash. She takes him for daily walks, then lets him jump into the car while she feeds her cats. He’s not aggressive but they’re fearful of his presence. Somehow, Liz figures she and her cats will adjust. We still hope to find the rightful owner because he’s a beautiful and loving dog. Somebody somewhere must be missing him very much. On the other hand, both she and I are fearful of someone claiming him falsely. An underground faction claim lost dogs and free dogs then use them as bait for fighting dogs. We’re not alarmists but realists and know this happens. As I continue to write about Dog, as Liz has named him, he’s adjusted and become quite civilized. Liz is a cat person but it seems she’s fallen in love with this big yellow dog. Maybe we’ve found Dog’s rightful owner after all. Barbara Sharik makes her home at Wit's End in Jones, Louisiana with a couple old dogs, young dogs and several stupid dogs, a cat, a talking cockatiel and a white dove. She's active in civic affairs, serves as a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public, is the Clerk for the Village of Bonita and a columnist for the Bastrop Daily Enterprise. She has authored several books. You can e-mail Barbara at barbsharikvail@hotmail.com.
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Calendar of Events
February 2012
February 4
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Queen of Queens Pageant Baton Rouge – 985-839-7840
February 5
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Super Bowl Sunday
February 11-19
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State Junior Livestock Shows Gonzales – 225-578-2255
February 12
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Black Heritage Parade Farmerville – 318-368-9242
February 18
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Old Spanish Trail Ride Logansport – 318-872-1310 World Famous Cajun Extravaganza/Gumbo Cook-Off Lake Charles Civic Center 337-436-9588
Krewe of Omega Parade Downtown Lake Charles 337-436-9588
February 19
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MARDI GRAS PARADES Church Point – 337-684-2026 Crowley – 337-783-0824 Eunice – 337-457-7389 Iota – 337-779-2214 Kaplan – 337-643-2400 Lafayette – 800-346-1958 Lake Charles – 800-456-7952 Mamou – 337-468-3272 New Orleans area – 504-566-5009 St. Martinville – 337-394-2233 Alexandria – 800-551-9546 Baton Rouge Area – 800-527-6843 Houma Area – 800-688-2732
Lafourche Parish 985-537-5800 Lake Charles – 337-436-9588 Lafayette – 800-346-1958 Northshore Parades – 985-892-0520 New Roads – 225-638-3998 Shreveport – 800-551-8682 Up Bayou Teche from Morgan City 800-256-2931 Taste de la Louisiane Lake Charles Civic Center 337-436-9588
February 26-May -12
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McNeese State University Banners Series (music, art, dance, and lectures from national and international performers and writers) Lake Charles – 337-475-5123 www.banners.org
An Unconventional Road Trip by Sherry Perkins
During the holidays, many of us visit relatives and friends or take trips. I want to tell you about a special trip to a special place on a special day. Even though it occurred in DeRidder, my hometown, this is the story of a wondrous and exceptional Louisiana road trip that can be taken anywhere, one I encourage each of you to consider. You won’t have to travel, pack a bag, or spend a dime. No reservations required. On Christmas Day, with festivities behind us, my mom and I took a drive to the cemetery. Now you may not think of the cemetery as a special place where wondrous things can happen, especially on Christmas Day when everyone is busy sharing food, gifts and good cheer, but... My mom had bought flowers for my brother’s and dad’s graves. The cold, drizzling rain did not deter us as we placed the flowers on each grave and spruced things up others had left. With our task complete, we stood and looked around at the other graves. Although we didn’t verbally express it, neither of us wanted to leave. Instead, we walked to another grave we recognized. As we approached, we noticed one of the urns on the north side of the huge, black granite tombstone stood empty of flowers but filled with rainwater. The flowers that belonged there were on the ground nearby, obviously carried out by the wind. Mama reached down, picked
them up, and placed them in their designated spot. As we talked about the person buried there, she glanced up and noticed a newly dug grave a short distance away. All the standing sprays there had blown over, too. With cold fingers, frosty breaths, wet heads, and cold bodies, we stood the half-dozen standing arrangements upright and stuck them back in the moist ground all around a strange woman’s grave. A few flowers had worked loose from the sprays so we just set them atop the grave. As we walked to our vehicle, we tidied up around other graves where flowers and other items had blown away. My mom and I have done some amazing things together throughout the years but spending time in the cemetery on Christmas Day tops the list. Even though we went there specifically to visit the graves of our loved ones, we left knowing we had helped other folks’ loved ones as well and that was a very special feeling. This is an exceptional Louisiana road trip you won’t soon forget so I encourage you to put it on your list. Sherry Perkins is a freelance writer from DeRidder whose published pieces include photos, articles, blogs, newsletters, and flash fiction. She is the current President of Bayou Writers’ Group in Lake Charles and has given presentations on creative writing. She is currently working on several screenplays, a biography, a children’s book, and a plantation photo book.
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BEDS & BEIGNETS
By Mary White
Strolling Magazine Street for Mardi Gras All eyes—and dancing feet—will be turned towards New Orleans this month as Carnival season comes to a scintillating end on Fat Tuesday, February 21, most famously known as Mardi Gras. Throngs of revelers from near and far will travel to The Big Easy not only to take in the massive celebration but also experience the city’s rich, storied history. Although the French Quarter grabs the most headlines, Magazine Street holds its own. This 6-mile stretch located in the Garden District was named after a “magazin,” a warehouse utilized in the 1700s to store products awaiting exportation. Boutiques, craft shops and galleries line the fashionable street not to mention an eclectic mix of architecture including Greek Revival and Victorian. Italianate also can be found here, and there’s no better example than the Terrell House Bed & Breakfast (www.BnBFinder.com/TerrellHouse). Richard Terrell, a wealthy cotton broker from Natchez, MI, had the glorious 3-story mansion built for his family in 1857. They lived in the home through the Civil War and maintained residence at the home until their deaths. In 1896, it was sold to Francis Palms, a
K C A B K TAL
Civil War soldier who served in the Fourth Louisiana Infantry Delta Rifles of the Army of Tennessee, and his wife Aimee-Martin. Stunning ornate cast iron frames adorn the balconies while tall windows, typical of this style, line the main level. The double parlors and den boast 14 foot ceilings with crown moldings, ornate medallions and sparkling chandeliers. Fine antiques can be found decorating the halls and guest rooms. Guests of the Terrell House can decide to relax in the comforts of their spacious suite or outside in the New Orleansstyle brick courtyard, a private oasis featuring several fountains and café tables surrounded by lush and flourishing vegetation. While the Terrell House stands in majestic form now, it wasn’t always in such fine condition according to Linda O’Brien, the current proprietor of the historic Terrell House. Like so many, the Mississippi native had long played with the idea of running a bed and breakfast. She knew about the Terrell House because of its location near her former home a couple of blocks away.
When the house came up for sale, she made the decision—an “impulsive” one she says— to purchase it. After finalizing the sale in 2003, the house underwent a major interior and exterior renovation from top to bottom and reopened as a bed and breakfast for Mardi Gras in February 2005. It was time and effort well spent. “I had never done anything remotely related to a B&B but thought it was something I might like to do,” said Linda. “I was right because I love doing this.” Interesting fact: The Terrells had three children. Their eldest son shares a birthday with Linda’s husband, Edward (August 22), their middle daughter shares a birthday with Linda (August 8) and their youngest daughter shares a birthday with Linda’s oldest son, Edward Jr. (January 7)! Mary White is the author of “Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies” and an avid B&B goer. She has stayed at bed and breakfasts all over the world and particularly loves the inns of Louisiana. In 1998, Mary founded BnBFinder.com, a top on-line bed and breakfast directory that lists thousands of B&Bs, inns, and boutique hotels worldwide.
I really enjoyed reading about Canton, Texas. I get over there as much as I can but I didn’t know about the cabins. Thanks for the information. I’ll be sure to spend a little more time in Canton instead of just rushing to the trade days! Jerry E., Haynesville, LA
Natchitoches is my favorite place in Louisiana! I love the history, the river, the architecture, the meat pies, just everything about it. There’s always so much to see and do. If I didn’t love my family and job, I’d move there but instead I just drive over every chance I get. Beverly P., Tyler, TX, via email I enjoy reading LOUISIANA ROAD TRIPS and so does my family. We try to see who can answer all the trivia questions [LAGNIAPPE] each month. Keep up the good work because we already have a pile of them on our bookshelf that we use for road trip ideas. Melinda G., Pineville, LA Louisiana Road Trips
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Bodies Revealed at Sci-Port By Su Stella
It will be worth a trip to Sci-Port in Shreveport to see the amazing Exhibition BODIES REVEALED. If may sound a bit creepy but you’ll see real dead people preserved with polymers. This is not a typical medical study where the bodies are positioned on gurneys; instead, bodies of all ages and sizes are displayed in number of athletic and everyday postures with various internal organs revealed. This show highlights the inner workings of the human body, from the respiratory to the reproductive systems. Keep in mind that these were real people that have donated their bodies to science. Much of the BODIES REVEALED showcases the effects of abuse that we subject our bodies to, complete with diseased organs. Obesity, cancers, liver and lung damage are all exposed which may promote healthier living for us all. The reason artistic renderings weren’t used for this exhibit is because people tend to beautify or ‘fix’ human flaws instead of being completely objective. As odd as it may sound, these people are ‘made in China’. Each person had donated their bodies for medical studies to Chinese universities and each one died of natural causes. The Chinese have some of the world’s best dissectors and the top practitioners in the field of plastination. Cool to the touch and ranging from rigid to flexible, they are preserved to last for many years. This polymer preservation method can take up to one year to preserve a complete body with a liquid silicon rubber. Interestingly, the brain is it the hardest organ to preserve in the original size as it’s composed of water and lipids (fats). My sister Liz, recently viewed the Exhibition with her sons and stated that at times you become so engrossed in the complex workings of Remington Suite Hotel, Shreveport the body that you tend to By Mona L. Hayden forget that the models were once living and While in Shreveport, you may as well stay overnight. I breathing people. highly recommend the Remington Suite Hotel located at 220 Teachers/guides are Travis Street in downtown available for elementary Shreveport. The boutique hotel is to post grad students. structured with your ultimate Sci-Port also has a special comfort and convenience in audio tour for children. mind while providing first rate Even if you aren’t personal service. Branded for interested in viewing the western painter/sculptor Fredric BODIES REVEALED Remington, all suites are aptly Exhibition (which I can’t named for other famous artists, imagine!), the Planetarium adding to the authenticity and allure of your visit. is world class in itself. Accommodations include newly renovated suites with Also, the month of amenities to please the most discriminating guest. Standard suites February is featuring Born are equipped with a kitchenette and Jacuzzi jetted bath tub and Wild, Tornado Alley and deluxe suites have plush mattresses and separate living areas Under the Sea at their with a pull-out sofa. The spacious premier suites include all this IMAX Dome Theater. Scias well as a separate dining and living area, making it feel comfy Port is an adventure for like home while the VIP suites are bi-level with the master any age, not to mention a bedroom just up the spiral staircase and entrances on both floors great place to celebrate a of the hotel. birthday party or special The kitchenettes are stocked with a mini refrigerator, coffee event. maker, sink and microwave and all rooms have a flat screen BODIES REVEALED television, ironing board and iron, in-room safe, hair dryer and runs through May 21, iPod Alarm dock. 2012. The Exhibition is The hotel is beautifully appointed in rich colors and a open every day but western lodge décor that’s warm and soothing, making it a very please visit comfortable environment for an overnight stay, or even longer. www.Sciport.org for With valet parking, a complimentary buffet breakfast, and a hours, prices and details. business center located in the lobby, you can enjoy being While in Shreveport, pampered while being productive. A full service salon and spa is lunch at Sci-Port for basic available for guests as well as an on-site fitness center (certified snacks or light foods. Just personal trainer upon request), sauna and steam room. a few blocks away is The Within walking distance of the boutique hotel are Casinos Blind Tiger, famous for for gaming, dining and entertainment, Sci-Port with I-Max Dome their original Louisiana Theatre, Louisiana Boardwalk for a shopping extravaganza, and a fare. Nicky’s serves up variety of restaurants and shops. Mexican food and you Rates for a standard suite start at $110/night with the are close enough to the VIP/bridal suites starting at $190. Call (318) 425-5000 or visit casino buffets to satisfy remingtonsuite.com to make reservations or for more information. any taste. Louisiana Road Trips
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MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE
By Pro Angler, Joe Joslin
2012...I'm Feeling Hopeful! Hello fellow anglers. I have at least three things in my fishing vocation that really gives me reason to be hopeful as we get into the second month of 2012. The first is that we have gotten almost a three feet rise on Toledo and Rayburn from the "bottom out" which occurred in mid-November. Since then, we’ve received several inches of rain, helping tremendously putting some water in the lake. We need a lot more but after navigating on south Toledo with a level of 159.5, 162.5 is a huge improvement, adding more room in coves/drains and at boat launches. Many boat launches are still closed but several resorts/marinas extended ramps when the lake was in low 160s. The 3-ft rise does increase options. The second factor has to do with SRA Louisiana suspending water sales negations with Toledo Bend Partners. Several Toledo lake area citizens groups, numerous Toledo fishermen, Toledo residents and business owners for weeks expressed serious opposition to the proposal. This group of 300-400 is breathing a bit easier after the January SRA public meeting at Toledo's Cypress Bend Resort. There was a lot of tension before the meeting with speculation of the response of the LA SRA and the 13 Commissioners to
public opposition. SRA LA Executive Director Jim Pratt read a prepared statement that all 13 commissioners voted to suspend contracts talks with TBP until LA adopts a comprehensive surface water plan. Pratt added that 386 comments were sent to the SRA and only seven expressed support for the contract while over 98% were opposed. There is much work to be done and I’m encouraged that several local legislatures appear to recognize the significance. Optimistically, the drought of the past two years could have a long term, positive impact on beautiful Toledo Bend. The drought turned our attention to the importance of lake water and the fact that we must get this contract right. I saw very little in the tabled contract that put the lake first but we now have another chance. My kids and grand-kids caught their first fish on Toledo and like so many of you, I love Toledo Bend and thank God for the many sunrises I have experienced there. I personally appreciate Gov Jindal's office, SRA Director Jim Pratt, and the 13 commissioners for reconsidering this. Our state agencies now have the huge task of developing a comprehensive surface water plan for water use in the rivers and lakes in our beloved Louisiana. We wish them well.
I love Toledo Bend and thank God for the many sunrises I have experienced there.
The third and final factor I want to mention has to do with catching a big fish recently. That always pumps me up! Just before Christmas (Dec 20), on a cold, clear and beautiful morning in southwest Texas, I was fishing a jigging spoon on a deep point on the extreme southern end of the Bend. I had two clients with me and we had caught nothing on the first hole that we tried at sunrise so we decided to move a short distance to another point and started to catch a few decent fish. I eased the boat out to where the depth dropped from 30 to 45 feet and moved back slightly to around 36-38 feet and dropped my Klassic Lures hammered jigging spoon vertically straight down under the boat. I lifted it a couple of times and felt a thump and set the hook and the rod doubled up. The fish was heavy and strong, fought like a big catfish and made no attempt to come to the surface like largemouth do. I kept looking for the forked tail of the catfish but instead I saw something round and dark – a huge bass weighing 10 lbs 13 ozs, making my second double digit in 2011 with the first one last March in the Six Mile area on a 5inch Senko rigged wacky style. The big December spoon bass was the 9th over 10 pounds in my fishing career with all of them coming from south Toledo. What a great way to end the year! Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848, joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com, or www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
I Hate to Complain But…
By Steve Cook I was shopping at a local mall this past Saturday and went into a men's clothing store. As soon as I enter, a salesman spots me and descends upon me like a vulture on road kill. "Out for a fun day of shopping?" he says in a gleeful way as if he and I are best buds and have just so happened to have run into each other. "Yeah, I guess," I say enthusiastically. "So, what are we looking for today," he asks. "I don't know what you're looking for, but I'm looking for dress shirts," I reply. I guess that was an open invitation to him to become a part of my life. "What color shirt are you interested in," he asks me as I'm heading towards the dress
shirt section in the back of the store. Now, he has me wondering if there's a blue dress shirt section and a green one and a white one and so forth. What difference does it make what color? Is he going to psychoanalyze me based upon my color choice? "I don't know," I say, being totally honest with my new BFF. "What sort of special occasion do you want your shirt for," he asks. Really? Does he think I want to take my new shirt out for a night on the town? So now I have a dilemma. Do I simply turn around and walk out, or do I tell him he's an idiot before I turn and walk out? I chose the former and left the store. I considered that a small step for a man, but a giant leap for mankind. Next, I head down to the men's room at the mall. As I'm taking care of business, I notice a sign that makes me feel pretty good about myself. Seems that simply by using the
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urinal, I'm part of a movement that will save 40,000 gallons of water over the course of the year. The mall management folks are very pleased with themselves for having installed one of these ultra-modern, space age, flushless urinals. I'm impressed, myself, at first. But, then it dawns on me that the urinals are just a new-fangled Johnny house. My great grandparents were using a similarly-designed facility a hundred years ago. And I bet that when they did, they never stopped to pat themselves on the back for having saved the planet. Steve Cook is a freelance writer and editor, from Richmond, Virginia. He also writes a daily humor column which appears online at www.RichmondNavigator.com. Previously, he was the morning DJ for a country music radio station but says he was fired due to his inability to remember the name of the father of Hank Williams, Jr.
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Photographing Memories By Lee Estes
As I may be the eldest of Louisiana Road Trips corps of talented writers, I can look back on almost 87 years of adventure and reflect on many things. Possibly, the most treasured has been the opportunity to meet and photograph people from around the world. I call them "Friends of The Moment" and they were found here and there, some old, some young, ordinary people in ordinary circumstances. I have, on occasion, just stationed myself in a public square and focused the camera on a busy pedestrian path and captured whoever came that way. The results, seldom great photographs, were nonetheless, reminiscent of a time and place, and they are unique in that they illustrate a small portrait of life as it existed in Athens in 1976, Lyon in 1982, Nanjing in 1988, or wherever. In the limited space we have, let me introduce you to some "Friends of The Moment" all of whom are much older than when photographed. Some are probably dead, from old age or perhaps war. Like all of us, a prayer for them would be in order. One of my favorite photographs among tens of thousands made over the past 65 years. I met this young lady in Bosnia in 1973 as I was traveling between Mostar and Sarajevo. This is my "Mona Lisa" and when I think of what took place in that part of the world during the late 1980's, I shudder to think what may have happened to her. The lady weaving lived in Arahova, Greece located a few miles northwest of Athens. Visiting with her and her family was Mona Lisa, Neretva one of the highlights of my journey to that Valley, Bosnia 1973 country in 1976. Many viewers of this photograph remark they are reminded of the Biblical character Dorcas. I was leading a group across southern Spain in 1971 when the motorcoach developed a problem and had to stop along the road about three miles west of Loja. While the driver hitch hiked into Loja seeking help, the rest of us settled down into the adjacent field to await Arahova, Greece 1976 developments. The day before, I had made plans to have a picnic lunch, but decided it would be better to stop in Antequera and eat at the Parador. With this turn of events, I wished I had planned the picnic. Shouldn't have worried, because because my passengers were carrying all kinds of food. Fruit, bread, cheese, candy, cookies, and wine came off that bus. We had just begun to share the wealth when I noticed a man plowing on the hillside above. Of that, I had to have a picture and took off up the hill. The man dropped his reins and gestured and pointed to ask what Espana Plowman was going on. I explained by picking up a stick Just West of Loja and breaking it while pointing to the bus. He 1971 Louisiana Road Trips
readily understood and motioned to me to come with him which I did. We went a short distance across a shallow draw and came to his vineyard where he proceeded to gather all the ripened grapes I could carry and contributed them to our picnic, a gesture I shall always remember. In 1974, I had an opportunity to attend the Dublin Horse Show, one of Ireland's premier social events. Seated behind me was the cutest freckle faced boy I had ever seen. To tell the truth, he and his sisters with him, interested me more than the horses. Anyway, I took the picture you see here. The next year, I was back in Dublin carrying a 16 x 20 inch print of Joe Maloney hoping beyond hope that he might be found so I could give it to him. Miracles do happen, because we did find him and invited him to the hotel for dinner where I made the presentation. I shall always remember watching Joe as he left the hotel trying to cover the Ireland Dublin Joe picture with his coat to protect it Maloney 1974 from the light mist which was present. Years later, Joe visited New Orleans and gave me a call. Quite often the images I capture evoke thoughts relating to something familiar to the mind. Almost sub-consciously these visions may appear. So it was when I photographed this young lady and child in China in 1988. I have seen the works of Michelangelo and other great artists work depicting the same subject, but here is my "Madonna and Child" far removed from the usual setting. I had stopped for lunch in an outdoor cafe in Avignon, France in 1977 when I noticed this beautiful little girl. When she hugged a post and peeked around it, I snapped the shutter. I only did it because it captured a moment when humanity is Little Girl Avignon, France 1977 most lovely. Lee Estes, a Kentucky native, migrated to Louisiana in 1956 with his wife, Lottie. He worked in aviation then with A&LM Railway. He began making photographs in Europe after WWII and ranked among the leading monochrome exhibition photographers in the U.S. during the 80’s. His extensive travels included leading tours across the globe. Lee has authored three photo/documentary books and is currently involved with the documentation of The Dixie Overland Highway (US80) in Louisiana, funded by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
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Librarian Joins Reality Keeping Bees! TV Show Jumping out of an airplane for New Years Eve sounds like a “Bucket List” item but for local Union Parish Librarian Stephanie Antley Herrman, it’s symbolic for living life to its fullest and taking a chance on new opportunities. “About three years ago, I woke up and realized I had lost a lot of myself over the years. After a painful divorce and now as a single mom, I was determined to demonstrate that life is good!” noted Herrman, 44. Jumping into life is more than a metaphorical meaning for Herrman, as she will be one of six contestants on Season Three of Ammo and Attitude on the NBC Sports Channel that challenges women in outdoor adventure scenarios. The opportunity to appear on the reality program developed when Herrmann and fellow kayakers were hosting demonstrations at the Union Parish Sportsman’s Expo. There she met Season 1 Ammo and Attitude winner Becky Lou Lacock who suggested that Herrmann apply for the show. Ammo and Attitude contestants will compete in outdoor challenges with a large emphasis on shooting and aspects of hunting, something relatively new for Herrmann. The show will be filmed in Spring of 2012, so Herrmann will be learning from other local outdoor enthusiasts by participating in groups such as archery practice with the local 4-H club, outdoor survival skill training with the Boy Scouts, fishing with the Bass Anglers, sporting clays with The Sim’s family, firearms training with Gunhaven Ranch, and horseback riding lessons with instructor Lisa Freeman of the Range Riders of Union Parish. “I have a good friend who told me once that there are these singular once-in-alifetime moments in life that we shouldn’t pass up,” adds Herrmann. “I do think that things happen for a reason and believe all our moments are once in a lifetime, so why not live them fully when they come our way?” As she prepares for the TV competition and embraces spending time with her children and her friends, Herrmann believes that we live in a true sportsman’s paradise and that we should treasure what we have in our own backyard. On December 31, 2011, as the Skydive Georgia plane hatch opened, she felt the intense cold wind from the plane’s high altitude and thought about what lies ahead of her in 2012. So, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then jumped out with eyes wide open. A video of the skydive along with stories of these outdoor adventures is available on the Facebook page entitled Living THE Life: Librarian’s Log. Louisiana Road Trips
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If you’ve been thinking about getting honeybees, it’s time to prepare. April is actually the ideal time to get bees but getting everything in order now will ensure a smooth transition as you move into becoming a new beekeeper. To get started, you need to get to know a beekeeper near you. Putting on a veil and looking into a beehive for the first time usually lets you know right away if beekeeping is going to be for you or not. Currently , there are six beekeeping clubs in Louisiana and about 400 beekeepers. Go to louisianabeekeepers.org to locate a beekeeper in your area. Next, find a place for your new hive. If you have plenty of land, place the hive in a location where there’s not much foot traffic, plenty of sunshine, and a water source nearby. If you live in city limits, there is most likely a municipal ordinance you can get from your local extension office that will help prevent bee vs. neighbor problems before they arise. Even if you don’t have any land, you can still become a beekeeper. Your best option is to find someone who wants bees on their property for pollination but doesn’t want to actually keep bees. Just let local garden clubs and gardening neighbors know that you are looking for a location to place a beehive or two. You’ll need to have your equipment ready before your bees arrive. You can order a complete starter kit from a bee supply catalog. There are many equipment options to choose from, but if you are just starting out, the easiest thing to do is just buy a kit. Kits usually include the complete bee hive (no bees), a smoker, bee veil, gloves, hive tool, and a “getting started” book. To get the bees for our hive, you can catch a swarm, order package bees through the mail, or buy a nuc (which stands for “nucleus” bee hive). A swarm is fun to catch and a free source for bees, but they sometimes don’t stay in the hive. When buying bees, I suggest purchasing a nuc because you get bees and a laying queen that are already established on some frames of honey, pollen, and brood. If you are unsure of how to install your bees into their home, ask the beekeeper. First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith Delaplane is also a good resource for learning these first important steps. And finally, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Every beekeeper I know does things a little differently so there is no exact right way. Learn from whomever you can then do what works best for you and your bees. Have fun! Amy Weeks has been keeping bees for over eight years in Ouachita Parish where she lives with her hubby, Tim and their three sons. Amy is currently President of Hill Country Beekeepers Association and on the Board of Directors for Louisiana State Beekeepers Association.
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GOING NATIVE
By Larry Brock
Winter’s Ebb Welcome to winter’s ebb. Venus glows as the evening star, Orion rules the night sky, and the Big Dipper balances on end. Squirrels have mated. Deer are shedding their antlers. Road trips have been conspicuous with bright red possumhaws, queues of powerline hawks, and plumes of blackbirds erupting then settling across vacant fields. Can daffodils be far? Where were you going, lonely dove, whistling and sighing; on that gray foggy morn, when once I saw you flying? “The world grows more wondrous when you pay attention, when you keep track of things and think about what’s happening,” naturalist Jim Conrad wrote in his online newsletter. Look and listen, ask and learn. So I inquired, “Do deer eat persimmons?” My friend replied, “Many a deer fell dead under a persimmon tree.” Gosh, I wondered, is the fruit toxic? Then he grinned. Duh, he’s a hunter! After the December freeze, a flock of house finches combed dead salvia stalks around my patio, gleaning the abundant seed crop. White-throated sparrows scratched in the leaf litter below. Cardinals, wrens and house sparrows were also persistent patio visitors. Moseying through the yard, I heard a woodpecker hammering on a dead snag while jays fussed in the woodlot. Later I came upon a mockingbird quietly foraging in a yaupon holly, one berry at a time. Other winter residents have included doves, robins, chickadees, bluebirds, thrashers, titmice and wrens. Migrant visitors were juncos, warblers and kinglets. And on New Year’s Day, over a hundred sandhill cranes were observed feeding in a harvested corn field near Transylvania. Neat! Take time to join in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 17th – 20th. The annual 4-day event creates a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. It’s free, fun, easy and anyone can participate. Check it out at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. Landscapes are often overlooked in winter. But as John Beverly Nichols observed, even in the frozen heart of winter a garden can be delightful if you give it half
a chance. On January 1st, I surveyed the neighborhood for native and exotic plants providing winter food for wildlife – drupes from dogwood, cherry laurel, holly, coralberry, lantana and chinaberry – waxy fruits from bayberry and tallow – pomes from pyracantha, crabapple and pear – airborne seed from asters, dandelion, euonymus, and goldenrod that’ve been allowed to mature – berries from nandina, persimmon and vitex – samaras from tulip-poplar –seed from coneflowers, evening primrose, salvia and native grasses still standing – cones from red cedar and cypress – acorns and pecans. What a banquet! A diversified landscape of trees, hedges, vines, forbs and grasses is habitat to many, an eyesore to those who prefer manicured scenery. Nature in the South is not bound by winter. January sparkled with sasanquas, coral honeysuckle, pansy and violet blooms. Sweet olive, bush honeysuckle, paper-whites and a buckeye or two were also in leaf and flower. Jessamine, flowering quince, and forsythias sported a few blossoms. Even roses were still blooming! A bit of fall foliage remained on oak and sweet gum trees. Mushrooms and toadstools pushed up through turf and leaf litter. Henbit, shepherd’s purse, sow thistle and dandelion flowers added a touch more color. Then sprouting winter greens, grasses, fleabane, yellowtops and larkspur carpeted the ground underfoot. Though Christmas was wet, meteorologists continue to forecast a mild and dry winter. With our recent history of summer droughts, we should look for ways to capture and conserve winter rainfall. Increase water-holding capacity of the soil by adding organic matter. Consider applying soil conditioners that fight compaction and increase water infiltration. Slow runoff to allow permeation. Apply mulch to preserve moisture. Install catchments if feasible. Add hardy native plants, and summer irrigation can be reduced. February is a transitional month. From ice storms to spring blooms. Prune trees and shrubs before sap rises. After soil dries, prepare beds for planting. Lift and divide sleeping perennials. Share surpluses with friends. Remember to maintain your 2012 garden journal. Plan now for a sustainable landscape by Going Native.
Join in the Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 17th-20th.
A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brock was inspired by his grandfather’s passion for gardening and his own desire to recover the horticultural uniqueness of this region. Larry is drawn to the relationships between plants, birds, insects and soil and can be found puttering outdoors in his yard most any time, weather permitting.
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